Seattle Kraken activate Andre Burakovsky off injured reserve

The Seattle Kraken have activated forward Andre Burakovksy off the injured reserve according to the NHL’s media site.

Burakovsky was week-to-week with an upper-body injury and was placed on IR on Dec. 8.

Burakovksy had just returned to the lineup from an unrelated upper-body injury that kept him out for six to eight weeks. He logged 9:08 minutes of ice time against the New Jersey Devils before leaving in the third period. A few days later, he was placed on IR.

The 28-year-old has tallied three assists in seven games this season with the Kraken.

The Swedish product missed just under half of the 2022-23 season with a groin muscle tear, ending his inaugural season with Seattle with 13 goals and 39 points in 49 games. Had he stayed healthy, his point total would have been close to his career high of 61 points set the year before when he helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup.

Burakovsky was drafted No. 23 overall in 2013 by the Washington Capitals and quickly became a consistent goal-scorer early in his NHL Career. He reached the 30-point mark twice with Washington before truly finding his calling with Colorado, recording at least 44 points in each of his three seasons in Denver. He was excellent during the 2020 playoffs, scoring seven goals and 17 points in 15 playoff games.

After a rocky start this season, the Kraken currently sit fourth in the Pacific Division with a 13-14-9 record, 35 points over 36 games and a 486-point percentage. They are just two points ahead of the fifth-seed Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames in a tight race.

Seattle is set to play the Philadelphia Flyers Friday and then will play in the outdoor ‘Winter Classic’ game at T-Mobile Park on January 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.